Hundreds of people took to the streets in the American city of Chicago on Friday after a police officer shot and killed a 13-year-old boy in that city at the end of March. Bodycam footage of the incident was released on Thursday.
The boy of Hispanic descent, Adam Toledo, was chased by the police at night. He would have carried a firearm while he was running. The officer told him to stop and when he did this and held up his hands, the police shot him.
Protesters see the incident as yet another example of excessive police brutality against Americans of color. The involved agent is on desk duty while the investigation of the incident is ongoing.
The Chicago police say they are keeping a close eye on the situation in the city. As a precaution, the days off of several police officers have been withdrawn, so that more people are available if the protests get out of hand.
Local businesses have boarded up their windows for fear of riots. After George Floyd’s death in 2020, Chicago was badly hit by riots and looters. For the time being, the protests in the city remain peaceful, although a group of protesters temporarily blocked traffic.
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